A few weeks ago, much of the USA-NPN team attended the 2026 Botanical Society of America conference at our home base in Tucson, Arizona.

We so enjoyed connecting with new researchers, undergraduate educators, students, and phenology enthusiasts! If you are joining us here after meeting us at Botany, welcome to the Nature's Notebook Narrative!

This Observer Story, written by UCLA student Chloe Cheng, features Beth and Kevin Maher, long-time phenology observers with the Tree Spotters at the Arnold Arboretum in Boston.

Learn about Beth and Kevin »

This Observer Story, written by UCLA student Kishan Talati, features Sky Hershberger, a science communicator and the Forestry Communications Specialist at the University of Wisconsin–Madison Extension.

Learn about Sky »

You recently heard from us with an update on the new Nature's Notebook app. Several parts of this project have been more time-intensive than expected, and because of that we are no longer anticipating a September release date. We sincerely apologize for the delay and promise we are doing everything we can to get the new app to you as quickly as possible. If you would like to read the full update, you can access it here.

In the coming weeks, we will continue to release versions of the web app to our beta testers to ensure that new features are worked as intended for a diversity of observers with different sites, species, and Programs. If you would like to help test, we welcome you to sign up as a beta tester below. We so appreciate your help!

Sign up to be a beta tester »

Learn more about the new app »

Are you an undergraduate educator interested in observing phenology with your students? Check out this forum post compiling resources and examples on incorporating Nature's Notebook into the undergraduate classroom.

Learn more »

In the eastern U.S., the appearance of redbud flowers is one of the clearest signs that spring has begun. However, the timing of this event varies regionally and varies from one spring to the next, making it difficult to predict when trees in a particular location will flower each year. 

To identify the conditions that trigger eastern redbud trees to flower, researchers used Nature’s Notebook observations from 152 sites across the species’ range. They found that both temperatures and daylength play a role in determining when trees flower, but the effects of temperature were not the same everywhere. Compared to trees in the southern U.S., trees in northern regions require extensive cold periods in winter but need less warmth in the spring to begin flowering. The results allowed researchers to predict within one week when Nature’s Notebook observers were likely to first observe open flowers on their local trees.

Read the Publication Summary » 

Read about how the Institute for Bird Populations and the National Park Service are using acoustic monitoring to determine the best time for in-person bird surveys at Olympic National Park.


Read the article »

Do you have challenges following our observation protocols for certain species? Have you noticed a phenophase definition that doesn't match what you're seeing in the field?

We created a new Forum topic where you can provide feedback. Our new Plant Specialist, Oskar Anderson, is working on revising protocols and phenophase definitions for clarity. We would love to hear from you!

Contribute in the Forum »

Join the Nature's Notebook Nest - bring your questions and observations and chat with USA-NPN staff, fellow observers, and Local Phenology Leaders! These are standing monthly meetings on the first Monday of the month at 12pm PT / 3pm ET. Mark your calendars, the next Nest is September 14th (second Monday due to the holiday)!

Sign up for reminders about the Nest »